Test protocols

The VERA test protocols are designed to test the environmental efficiency and operational stability of a range of environmental technologies for livestock production

Basically, the test protocols can be used to provide reliable and comparable information about the performance of new technologies to farmers, authorities and other stakeholders. The test protocols have been developed by experts within the different types of technologies. The experts represent each of the participating countries and are approved by the International VERA Board (IVB). The test programs are in English, and contain information regarding regulations and recommendations for implementing tests and reporting the results.

VERA Test protocols

Air Cleaning Technologies

The technologies are defined as air purifying or air treatment systems, which are connected to force-ventilated animal housing systems. The objective is to reduce emissions of ammonia, odour and dust.

Livestock Housing and Management Systems

Livestock housing and management systems that include the following: housing design including design of pen, and manure storage and removal system, bedding material and other rooting materials, additional indoor technical installations and management and treatment of indoor air and indoor climate. Manure treatment, including additives and management, feed composition, including additives and management together with general management. The objective is to reduce the emissions of ammonia, odour and dust.

Covers and other Mitigation Technologies for Reduction of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Manure

In general, there is a distinction between slurry storage in tanks or lagoons and storage of solid manure in heaps or containers. The definition of environmental technologies for storage includes covers, which can reduce the contact between the stored manure and the atmospheric air, or processing of manure in order to reduce the gaseous emissions during storage. The objective is to reduce the emission of ammonia, odour and greenhouse gases.

Slurry Separation Technologies

Separation technologies are defined as technologies that separate livestock manure into one or more solid fractions and one or more liquid fractions. The effect of a separation technology is measured on its capability to separate phosphorus (P) and organic nitrogen (N) from the manure into the solid fraction.

Measurement of Gaseous Emissions from Land Applied Manure

These technologies are defined as systems or devices that reduce the contact area between the land-applied manure and the atmospheric air, or treatments of manure that may affect emissions from land-applied manure. The central environmental pollution parameters focus on reducing the emissions of ammonia and odour.